Edinburgh on cusp of introducing Scotland’s first tourist tax

Concerns stretch across all areas of hospitality about the new levy.

If you’ve ever stayed overnight in major European cities like Paris, Berlin or Amsterdam, you may have noticed that there’s an extra charge in the form of a visitor levy.

Now Edinburgh is on the cusp of introducing the first so-called tourist tax in Scotland. And other councils are considering the same.

Today, after hours of debate, with some councillors calling for the charge to be upped to 7% or 8%, the proposed 5% levy was set.

So what will that look like for visitors?

Well, it means that a room which costs £120 a night will go up by £6.

And that applies to all types of overnight accommodation and is capped at five consecutive nights.

The scheme will apply to overnight stays from the July 24 next year and for booked and paid-for visits on or after May 1.

Some hospitality businesses have expressed concerns that this doesn’t give them enough time to make the necessary changes.

The council says that £50 million extra a year will help improve the fabric of Edinburgh, not just the city centre.

The final vote with the full council will go ahead next week.

Argyll and Bute council have started a twelve-week consultation on a visitor’s levy, but businesses in the area say they have major concerns over the impact on tourists and residents travelling in the area.